Trisha & I between acts on closing night.

September is here and I am in high gear choosing new repertoire for everyone, helping students prepare for school talent show, community theatre, and district choir auditions, and (yes, I'll admit it) even starting to think about CHRISTMAS music! Fall seems to be such an exciting time as the weather changes and lessons pick back up. However! Summer is an exciting time too! Summer break can be a great time to take advantage of camps and performance opportunities in some of the fantastic professional and community theatres in our area. Before I get too far into fall planning and dreaming of Christmas, I wanted to catch you up with what some of my students have been up to this summer because they have been doing some amazing things!

In May, Trisha Iyer made her Opera Theatre of Saint Louis debut in La bohème! She was one of twelve students from the Saint Louis Children's Choirs chosen through auditions to be a part of the children's chorus in Act II of the opera. It was so exciting to see her on stage with the pros and I know it was an amazing experience for her.

Jennifer receiving her scholarship from Missouri Federation of Music Clubs president, Julie Watson.

Also in May, Jennifer Ferry competed in the Missouri Federation of Music Club's state competition where she was awarded a full scholarship to attend the summer vocal camp at Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony in Eureka Springs, AR. IPFAC is home to Opera in the Ozarks, which provides training to up and coming young artists through its summer intensive. At the end of the week of camp students presented a fully staged musical on Saturday night - this year's musical was Godspell - and a choir concert on Sunday afternoon. Campers also took part in a master class where they performed solos they worked on during the week.

Jack Ferry attended the Jim Widner Jazz Camp at UMSL in June. This was the second year in a row that Jack was able to attend on scholarship from our Federation chapter! At the camp, students are placed in big bands for the week and work on songs to perform at an end of the week concert. They receive training in music theory and improvisation, and take master classes during the week. At the end of each day they are treated to a concert by the Jim Widner Big Band. There is no age limit to the camp, so it's fun to see such a wide range of age and experience playing together. I've been amazed both years at how great all the bands sound after just a week of working together! If your student is at all interested in jazz music, this camp is a great way to get your feet wet without being thrown in to the deep end. :)

Morgan Hanson spent July rehearsing in DaySpring School of the Arts' production of Peter Pan, in which she played one of the Lost Boys. There was a huge cast in the show and Morgan did a fantastic job in her role!

It was so fun to see these students performing around the city (and out of state!). If you're a current student and want to know more about any of these camps or competitions, I'd love share more on how to get involved!

Morgan & I after her closing night performance of Peter Pan!

Next up in the realm of special student performances: Jennifer Ferry is competing THIS Saturday at the Saint Louis Art Fair in the River Blender's Chorus Sing for Scholarships competition. Jennifer was one of five finalists chosen and the winner is decided by the audience, so I'd love to see you there to cheer her on! Then in October, Lacey Fowler will be performing in Beauty and the Beast with the Variety Children's Theatre - I believe her rehearsals start any day now and I'm so excited to see what kind of enchanted object she'll be in the castle :)

I think that's all for now - I'll see you around the studio!